Improvement in breech-loading fire-arms



2 Sheets-Sheet l.

W. JOHNSTON.

Breach-Loading Fire-Arm.

Pxtentcd Nov. 1, 1864.

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BAMM

2 Sheets-Sheet 2. W. JOHNSTON.

Breach-Loading Fire-Arm.

atente'd Nov. l. 1864.

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Witnesses:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM JOHNSTON, OF CINCINNATI OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN BREECH-LC'ADING FIRE-ARMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 4 11,868, dal edNovember i, 1564.

.To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, WILLIAM JOHNSTON, of Cincinnati, inthe countyotliamilton and State of Ollio, have invented a new and usefulImprovcment in Brooch-Loading Fire-Arms; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full and exact description of the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of thisspcciiieation, in which- Figure 1 is alongitudinal central section of abreech-loading gun embodying my invention, the conical frustum or pintleon which the barrel rotates being shown in elevation. Fig. 8 is a rearend view of the double cylinder or sleeve, hereinafter referred to, onthe line xx, looking forward. Fig. 3 is a front end view of saidcylinder on the line looking toward the stock. Fig. Il is a. sideelevation of the gun. Fig. 5 represents in dierent positions the leverfor locking the barrel in position for tiring. Fig. 6 representsdetached views of the breeehvith the axle upon whicl the barrel-turns.Fig. 7 is a detached view of the barrel and double cylinder or sleeve.Fig. 8 represents the cartridge-shell retractor and its spring, and Fig.9 illustrates a modification of the same. Fig. 10 exhibits by elevationthe collar which tits upon the axle of the barrel, and carries the cam,which, in connect-ion with the pin on the retracting-rod, produces themovement of the cartridge-shell retractor, and which will be hereinaftermore particularly referred to. Fig. 11 represents, in end elevation andsection, the jam-nut by which the barrel and double sleeve are securedto the stock. Fig. 12 represents the metallic baud or strap whichencircles the barrel and stock to connect them together. Figs. 13, 14.,15, and 17 are representations of the lock and of the part employed inimmediate connection therewith. Fig. 16 represents the .guard whoseinterior upward termination forms a recoil-spring to retract the hammerfrom con` tact with the barrel.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspending parts in the severalfigures.

This invention relates to certain improvements which are chieflyapplicable to thc gun for which I obtained Letters latent ou the 13thday of May, A. D. 1862; and it consists, inst, of a device forretracting the exploded cartridge in the act of rotating the barrel orof wit-hdrawimr the cartridge, if desired; secoud, of a mthod of makingthe retract-ing portion which is attached to the stock removable, so asto be renewed with little expense il injured or worn; third, in thepeculiar arrangement of the double sliding retracting bar or rod anddouble-acting spring by which 'the forward and backward movements of thetraversiu'g pin are regulated and made available to expel t-hccartridge-case and retract the ejector.

In order that others skilled in the art to which my invention appertaiusmay be enabled to fully understand and use the same, I will proceed todescribe its construction and operation.

In thc accompanying drawings, A is the breech, formed m one piece with atapering conical projection, A', which enters a corresponding socket inthe lower part of the double cylinder or sleeve B B', the upper chamberof this cylinder heilig occupied by the barrel C. A collar, A, having ailange, a, fits upon the forward end of the pintle A', and is securelyretained thereon by the jam-nut c', which is screwed upon the forwardextremity of the pintle A. The port-ion of the projection A' upon whichfit the collar A and jamnut c is made smaller than the remainder, inorder that the peripheries of the projection, collar. and jam-nut may becoincident. The ange a of the collar is held back against the shoulderb, and thus, with the pintle and jamnut, constitutes the coupling orconnection be tween the barrel and breech.

The stock D is recessed at its rear end for the accommodation of thejam-nut O', and the stock is also oii'set, so as t0 iit between. thebarrel and jam-nut and sleeve B IS'. The stock is secured to the barrelnear its forward end by a metallic strap'or band, D', Fig. 12. Thebarrel C, with the sleeve B 1l', is adapted to rotate within a certainrange upon the projection A', which thus constitutes a pintle or axispinfor the barrel, the latter being partially rotated, to permit theinsertion and ejection of the cartridges at the rear' end. In the angea. (sce Fig. 10) is a recess, a the two sides of which form shoulders,to engage a piu, b', Fig. 3, ou the interior oi' the sleeve B and thuslimit the rotary movcnwnt of the barrel, so as, on being turned opened,to arrest it in convenient position for the insertion of the cartridge,and on being turned into position i'orjring to retain it in properposition to beloekcd by the spring lever-catch E, which takes into asmall recess, b, in the rear upper side of the cylinder B.

F is a metallic block rigidly secured to the under side of the barrel,and located between the same and the stock I) at a point somewhatin'advanee of the axle of the barbel. Ihrough this block works a bar, G,which is adapted to slide longitudinally beneath the barrel, and toimpart a corresponding movement to the bar G', the two being rigidlyconnected in auch a manner as to forma shoulder just behind the block Fwhen in their most advanced position. The bar G carries the ejector g,to receivewhich is a recess formed in the under side of the rear end ofthe bore. The bar G works through acorresponding aperture, b, in thesleeve B B.

G isabar placed beneath the bars G G', with its forward end insertedthrough the opening in the block F, and adapted to receive a limitedlongitudinal movement independently of the bars G G by having a projection, g', on its upper side, which moves within a slot, g, in the barG. On the bar G, and between the forward end thereof and the block F, isplaced a spiral spring, I, for the purpose of retracting the ejector.The rear end of the bar G carries a small downwardly-projectng pin, g,which, as the barrel is turned so as to receive its charge, comes incontact with a cam, a', on the collar A.

This cam is of such form that, as the turning of the barrel continues,the pin g, by moving in contact with the edge of the same, is caused tomove backward, and the pin, being thus actuated, communicates itsbaekward movement to the bars G G', the result of which is to throw theejector g beyond the rear end of thc bore, and thus expel thc shell ofthe cartridge which .may have been previously exploded. Theretraction ofthe bar G contracts the spring I between its end. and the block F, sothat as soon as the pin g" passes the backwardly-projecting point of thecam a the spring I throws forward the bars G G G, when the pin restsagainst the base or lower face of the cam in the same transverse planeasthe normal position of raid pin. When the ping reaches this the springI ceasesto act upon the retractng rods G G', the ejector g having beenreturned to its place in the end of the barrel. The cartridge beinginserted, the return movement to close the barrel commences, and duringthis movement the pin g traverses the lower and front edges of the cama. The pin g, with its bar G, is thus moved forward, and it' the actionof the spring I has failed to draw the ejector g entirely within itsplace in the bar rel, inoonsequence of the fouling of said ejector, thebar G comes in contact with the rear end of the bar G, and pressesforcibly against it until the bars G G and ejector g have assumed theirmost advanced position. In travversing the front part of the can! a',the forward end of the bar G presses upon the spring I and contracts it,so that when the pin g* passes the upper forward point of the cam q. andis released from contact therewith the spring I tlirows it back toitsnormal position, with the rear end of the projection g' against the rearend of the slot in the bar G; hence it will be seen that the samemovement which thebarrel undergoes in bein g opened or turned asidecauses the pin g to circulate around the cam a', and the ejector tobeprojeeted andretracted to its place within the barrel, so that whenthe barrel has been turned open to a convenient position the shell ofthe exploded cartridge will have been expelled from the barrel and theejector returned, the barrel being thus made ready for the reception ofanew cartridge without the necessity of turning it toward its closedposition, or a reversal of the movement by which the projection of theejector was accomplished, and without any fspeeial manipulation for thatpurpose.

rIhe collar A may be readily removed, and is 'employed for the purposeof adapting the cam a' to be more readily and cheaply replaced if itshould becomeinjured or impaired by use. The proper position ofthe cenarA upon the axle A is insured by a pin or projection, a, Fig. 6, overwhich fits a recess, a, Fig. 10, on the collar.

Fig. 9 illustrates the employment of an independent spring, i, to throwthe bar G toits normal position after having made a circuit about thecam a. In this modification the bar G is made hollow, and in it works arod, i', which forms the connecting medium between the spring i and barG.

To throw back the hammer J after striking, and for the purpose ofpreventing it from intereeptin g or retarding the turning of the barrel,ithashitherto been customarytoemployan independent spring insertedbetween the hammer and the recoitplate of the breech. This spring addsto the complication of the arm and is very liable to become impaired. Toobviate this objection, I court-*uct the spring in one piece with theguard K, as shown at K. This springl. extends upward through anopeningin thebreech, and exertsa backward pressure upon the hammer J,andwlmelt presents no material resisting force to the stroke of thelatter, it holds the beak a little behind the recoil-plate A, and throwsit to such position directly after it has been impelled against thecartridge.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as newtherein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. The cam a', employed in connection with a circulating-pin, g, and abar or bars G G',

and the bar G, and spring I, (or springs I s', Fig. 9,) to effect theprojection and retraction of the cartridge-shell ejector during thelovement which the barrel undergoes in being opened to receive itscharge, substantially as :md for the purposesV explained.

2. Forming-the oem e on wremovable co1- hu, A2, for the purpose ofadapting said eem to be readily and cheaply replaced, as herein setforth.

The arrangement of the retreating bar or bins .G G', the but Grt,andspring I, (or springs l' i, Fig. 9,) whereby the forward and g' aremade available in backward movements of the circulating-pin projectingand retract-ing' the ejector.

Th`e` above specification of my improvement in breech-loading fire-armssigned this 'Btl/1 day.

of August, 1864.

WILLIAM JOHNSTON.

'Witnessesz EDWARD H. KNIGHT, CHARLES l). SMITH.

